Washington County taking park reservations
WASHINGTON – While gathering with friends and relatives over the holidays, it might be a good time to also discuss plans for reunions and picnics for 2003. The Washington County Department of Parks and Recreation will begin accepting reservations for the shelters at the three county parks beginning Jan. 13. There are 10 shelters at Mingo Creek Park and two each at Ten Mile and Cross Creek parks.
“We get a lot of family reunions, weddings, church picnics and families,” said Jeff Donahue, the county’s superintendent of recreation. “Birthday parties and graduation parties are big.”
Donahue said this past year there were some weekends when the park shelters were completely rented.
“In some cases, weddings have been held on Fridays,” Donahue said.
Donahue said the county is trying to encourage more weekday use of the parks this year by offering discounted shelter rentals Monday through Friday.
For Washington County residents, the half-off rental fee will be $25, while out-of-county residents will pay $33 for shelter rentals during the week.
“Ten Mile is one of our more used parks,” Donahue said.
The park covers only 25 acres, 12 of which belong to the Army Corps of Engineers.
The corps leases the land to the county and the county provides the maintenance.
The park abuts Ten Mile Creek and there is a boat launch at the site which is located just outside of Fredericktown.
“We’re actually putting some more playground equipment in next year,” Donahue said.
Mingo Creek Park is the largest county park, with 2,600 acres.
It also boasts several covered bridges and is home to one of the sites of the annual Covered Bridge Festival. Donahue said it is an extremely popular park.
“We get some church day camps and Scout camps, particularly in Mingo. We offer day camps for children,” Donahue said.
Mingo also offers numerous picnic tables and barbecue pits, hiking trails and horseback riding trails. It is located 12 miles east of Washington on Route 136.
Cross Creek Park covers 3,500 acres, including a 258-acre fishing lake.
It is located off of Route 50 near Rea.
For more information about shelter rentals and programs offered by the Washington County Parks and Recreation Department, call 724-228-6867.